Coaching to Improve Student Reading Achievement

No skill is more important to student achievement than the ability to read and derive meaning from the printed page. School improvement plans in virtually every school, regardless of grade level configuration, underscore the importance of all teachers working toward helping students to learn to read and to use their reading skills to learn key information in each subject area. It is no surprise that reading skills are often the first consideration in overall student achievement and the subject of a host of initiatives in every state. State and national grants, professional development efforts, and specific school improvement plans all focus upon helping students to be effective readers who can ultimately use reading and reasoning skills independently for a variety of purposes. This is especially significant with wide ranges of reading abilities that are present in today’s classroom along with the challenge of teaching students who do not speak or read English. It is clear from the research that positive and intentional classroom practice toward this goal is enhanced through coaching. Using coaching principles, grounded in respectful interaction, can grow the skills of team members.

This course focuses upon the all-important coaching relationship in improving student reading achievement. Seven components of successful reading programs are the foundation of reading achievement: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, writing about the reading, and content area reading skills.

Intentional best practice in each reading component is emphasized as the basis for the coaching interaction. Through learning activities, observations of teaching and practice and application of skills, participants learn how to establish a positive, respectful, caring and confidential coaching relationship that allows each partner to grow and learn in a safe, collaborative and guiding atmosphere with the common goal of increasing student reading achievement.

Instructor: Marilyn McGuire

How do I sign up?Register as usual using the LAPDA Registration for REGISTER HERE. For graduate credit, Download the Grad Reg Form Here complete and submit the Union Institute Credit Registration form to LAPDA prior to commencing the course. Once your registration has been processed, which may take to a week, you will receive a course code via email from LAPDA with instructions on how to sign in to access the course. The course must be completed within 105 days. Upon completion, your grade will be submitted to Union Institute then you can request your transcript within 4 weeks.